In 1947, Rav Ovadiah Yosef ZT”L was invited to Cairo by Rav Aharon Choueka, the founder of Yeshivat, “Ahavah VeAchvah” to teach in his Yeshiva. Rav Yosef was also asked to serve as a Rav there and be the head of the Cairo Beis Din.
Rav Yosef had passed his rabbinic tests for Semicha (rabbinic ordination). However, to assume these positions, Rav Yosef needed written documentation of his Semicha. When he approached his Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Ezra Ataya, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat, “Porat Yosef” to receive his written documentation of his, “Yoreh Yoreh, Yadin Yadin” Semicha, Rav Ataya noticed that the document was pre-printed with the wording, “Who signs here, in Yeshivat Porat Yosef” on the signature block – meaning that the signatory was located in the Yeshiva when signing the document. However, Rav Ataya was not in the Yeshiva at the time and traveling to the Yeshiva which was in Jerusalem was not a simple matter in 1947. The Arabs had placed a siege on Jerusalem, and the roads were somewhat dangerous to travel. True, the siege was mostly on trucks and transports carrying food, but it was still not a safe journey. Nonetheless, Rav Ataya refused to sign something that was not true. He travelled to Jerusalem, signed Rav Yosef’s Semicha in the Yeshiva building, and returned home.
